Rating: 3 Pulses

Rated R

Focusing primarily on Michael Myers’ childhood, Rob Zombie’s rendition of Halloween brings all the blood and gore of contemporary horror films to this classic of the genre.

In the film, Michael again returns to Haddonfield, Ill., in search of his sister, Laurie. However, unlike the original film by Tim Carpenter, this event takes place about an hour into the film.

The first hour is devoted to an in-depth look at the development of Michael’s psychopathology. You see a very unstable home life and constant tormenting by other children which form a cold blooded killer in the form of a 10-year-old boy.

This little boy likes to kill pets and take photos of maimed and dead animals and he commits his first savage murder just hours before he murders his three victims at home.

New information is also revealed concerning the therapy sessions with Dr. Sam Loomis, Laurie’s placement with her adopted family, and Michael’s mask and costume are given back stories of their own which brings them to life.

Michael kills more often and more viciously in this film. I counted at least 15 different murder scenes, which varied in situation and weapon.

All the extra violence really doesn’t add to the terror of the film. Many of the deaths seemed pointless and forced and leave viewers asking “Why is he killing these people and is it necessary?”

In the original film every death seemed to be destiny. Michael’s character was far more elusive and the audience never really knew when he would show up. In this film Michael always seems to be in the shot or the focus of the scene.

The viewer is moved from the eyes of Michael Myers to an active observer of his actions.

Does this film take the audience into the mind of the psychopath we know as Michael Myers?

No.

It shows a lot of violence earning itself a three out of five.